A New England senior community has created a safe way for residents to hug their loved ones amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Wheelock Terrace in Hanover, New Hampshire has implemented a new "hug wall" to prevent those most vulnerable to the coronavirus from possible exposures while finally getting closer to relatives, WCVB reports.
Resident Lu Canepa was among the Wheelock Terrace residents who got to experience the new "hug wall" when he was recently visited by his daughter and granddaughters.
“I think we were both delighted to establish contact again," Canepa told WCVB. "My granddaughter said that they actually had tears in their eyes after the hugging. It was just so nice to be close again."
Staff members at Wheelock Terrace saw similar inventions elsewhere and decided to use embroidery hoops for arm holes and put together shower curtains that are easily sanitized between huggers. The facility currently has two "hug walls" set up as of Tuesday (December 29.)
“I was actually here on Christmas Day, and a visit was ending and she was like, 'I just want to hug my daughter,' and I'm like, 'Well, let's go to the hug wall,'” said Melissa Suckling, executive director of Wheelock Terrace, via WCVB. “They've finally been able to make that connection that's been lacking for nine months,” she added.
Suckling also told WCVB that they've seen residents shed tears of joy for the first time during the pandemic after using the hug wall.
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